Propulsion drive



Oct. 19, 1948. E. FRlscH PROPULSION DRIVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1946 WITNESSES aldw @M Oct. 19, 194,8. E, FRlsCl-i 2,451,936

PROPULSION DRIVE Filed NOV. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1948 PROPULSION DRIVE Erling Frisch, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 21, 1946, Serial No. 711,404

(Cl. S18- 148) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a ship propulsion coni trol system and, more particularly, to an improved arrangement of control apparatus for controlling the operation of a Diesel engine driven alternating-current generator for a synchronous propulsion motor during starting and crash-reversal operations of the ships propeller by the synchronous motor.

The subject matter of this invention involves an improved varrangement of control apparatus of the type shown and described in the cepending application of Erling Frisch and Marion R. Lory, now Patent No. 2,447,643, patented August 28, 1948, application Serial No. 723,760, filed January 23, 1947, as a continuation of application Seria1 No. 495,730, filed July 30, 1943, 110W fOreited. 'k

In that application there is disclosed an arrangement of control apparatus by which the alternating-current generators for a synchronous propulsion motor are controlled in such manner as to effectively prevent stalling of the Diesel engines driving alternators. The arrangement of control apparatus referred to provides generally for synchronizing the operation of a plurality of alterhating-current generators at a time subsequent to the connection of the synchronous propulsion motors to such generators, and the control of the eld excitation for such generators during the time when the propulsion motor is operating at subsynchronous speeds. Reference is made to such application for a more detailed description of the type of control apparatus with which the present invention is involved,

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement of apparatus for .H

controlling the field excitation of a Diesel-engine driven alternating-current generator for a synchron-ous ship propulsion motor during the time that the Diesel engine is operating at low speed.

A further object or" this invention is to provide, in control apparatus of the character referred to, a regulating generator for reducing the eld excitation of the alternating-current generator which is rendered operable 'by a pilot generator in response to the speed of operation of the alternating-current generator and Diesel engine when the speed drops below a predetermined speed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the preferred arrangement of apparatus for carrying out the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a switch sequence chart illustrating the 2 sequence in which the connections fol` the generating apparatus shown to the right of Fig. 2 in Fig. l are made;

Fig. 3 is a switch sequence chart illustrating the manner in which the connections for the ship propulsion motor shown to the right of Fig. 3 in Fig. 1 are made;

Fig; 4 is a switch sequence chart illustrating the manner in which the iield excitation connections of the field excitation sources of potential are made;

Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating the speed torque conditions of a ship propeller motor and the engine or prime mover during crash reversal operations; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a form of switching apparatus for carrying out the operations shown in the switch sequence charts of Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 5,- the dot-dash lines A, B andl C show the torque on the ships propeller plotted against propeller speed during crash reversal operations for ship speeds respectively of about 100%, of about 30%, and of about 60%. The dotted lines i, 2 and 3 show the torque which would be placed on the Diesel-drive engines respectively with alternating-current generator excitations of 100%, 85% and 70%. By a 100% alternating-current generator excitation is meant the maximum excitation available which will be in the neighborhood of 250% to about 300% of the normal excitation on such generators when the synchronous motor is operating at synchronous speeds. The solid curves l, 2 and 3 illustrate the effective torque produced by the synchronous motor for the engine torque curves l, 2 and shown below. Since crash reversal operations must be made with the Diesel engines running at their lowest speed, which for present Diesel-engine constructions is about 30% of their maximum speed, and at such speed the Diesel engine will develop only in the nature of about of rated torque as indicated by the solid line on the graph, it Willbe seen from an examination of the engine curves I, 2 and 3 that the Diesel engine will stall if full excitation is maintained on the alternating-current generators. The difference between the two sets of curves l, 2 and 3 is due to electrical and other losses between the Diesel engines and the ship propulsion motor. The curve D illustrates the maximum torque that can be developed by the alternatingcurrent generators when the Diesel engines are operating at about 30% speed and developing in the nature of about 75% rated torque, The deagencer! sired objective of the 4control apparatus is to get the maximum torque out of the alternating-current generators when the Diesel engines are operating at minimum speed, and this is accomplished by controlling the field excitation of the alternating-current generators so that its conditions of operation will follow that indicated by curve D.

Referring toFig. l, the numeral l.Il designates a ships propeller schematically illustrated as being driven by a synchronous motor II which Lis supplied with polyphase alternating current froml alternating-current generators I2. Although only two alternating-current generators I2 have been shown in Fig. 1, it will-be understood that a greater number may be employed, and inpreierred practice there will be provided, generally, four such generators. Eachzofjthe. generators I2 is driven by a Diesel engine I3, and the `speed of such engines is controlled by fuel supply Valves I4 which are, in turn regulated by governors I5 in accordance with :conventional practice. .A master speedcontrolllevery I6fis provided :for controlling simultaneous operation ofthe governors I5 through siiitabl'e remote 'control-apparatus schematically 'designatedby :th-e broken une n. -`=Each ofY the-generators 'I2'1is `provided with a eld winding 4I8 and a discharge resistor I9. According/to2 they-operation of control switches G13,"GI"4 ancl'Gli5,fthe'eld lwindings I3 may be connectedether totheir vrespective discharge resistors I9 or to a source of direct-current potentl'alfsuppliedV ley-"thedirect-current generator 26. 'The generators `I 2' are-'also 'providedwith switches GI`II,GI lf'and'G'I Zfor controlling their connection to the motor supply bus.

The 'motorfI-If is provided with a ifield winding 2|'Vandaarstarting're'sistor'22. According to the operation of control switches lSI, S2 and S3, the eld'winding 2| maybe connectedl either to the starting--resistor'fZZ orl rto a source 'of direct-currentpotential supplied by the direct-current geneI-ator1V Y f The direct-'current generators-20 and 23 are, respectively provided with control 'eld windings 2'4"-and=25, theexcitationfof' which is controlled in' a` nannerito;l 'be-"described The"energization ciw-"thegeneratorrleldt windingsI I8 and the motor ieldwinding 2I is dependent upon the control operation-of; the ,eldfwin'dings '2d-and' 25, respectively,;and it is to-this v control operation which the subject matter Vof- `this invention relates.

ReversinglswitchesRI through R4 control the connectionpfi thepropulsionmotor II to the alternating-current jgnerators I2. The `switches Rthrough'fR'l -control the-connection of the motor -I I/toa bankeof''dynamic'braking resistors'i.

*"A's'fpointedf out inthe above-mentioned application-fthe alternating-current generators l2 are started'by thesDiesel engines I3,'and when they are-running' at approximately the same speed, switches' GID through GIZ are closed. The motcr-switches'RI lthrough R4 arefthen opera-ted to conhectthe-fmotorfll accordingto the direction of operation vfdesred. iAt lor lsubsequent to the timeft'he s'witchesARI'throughRd are operated, the-"switches'GIS are opened, and the switches GI`3'fa'ndfGI4 areclosed. This-latter operation applies excitation/tothe vilelds- I8,and the time lag in the ybuildinfg-up of the strength vof such field'i-lpreventsf-a sudden-application of load to the-engines13 which-would votherwise stall the enginesfy I3. lAt this timethefeldfZ I 'for the motor II fis connectedto the starting resistor 22y through-#closure 'nfl-the switch vS3. vThe motor II Il' then.- starts up asfany inductionJ motor,` andthe 4 torque it develops is dependent upon the damper windings with which it is provided and the Value of the starting resistor 22. It is, of course, desirable that the speed of the motor II be increased as rapidly as possible to the point at which the switch S3 may be opened, and the switches SI and S2 closed to energize the field 2l and synchronize theioperation of the motor II. This is accomplished by regulating the strength of the eld windings I8 so that the motor I I will develop its maximum torque during such time as it is operating as an induction motor. While operating in this manner, it is necessary that the strength of the field I8 be so yregulated that twill not overload the Diesel engine "i3 and thus cause stalling. The operation that takes placeduring starting of the motor II is the same as takes place during crash-reversal `operations except that in the latter case the switches R5 and R'I are rst operated to brake the motor 'I Iffand propeller -IO to a standstill positioninas 'shortwatime as possible. In both cases; it is desirable to utilize the maximum torque of which the Diesel engines I3 are capable While running .at low speeds by maintaining the strength off .the'iield windings I8 at a maximum. Inthis manner, thempemcd during which it is necessary to operate the motor II as an induction motor will be reduced toa minimum. Operation of the motor II as an: induction motor for an excessive period of time may result in damagefto'the heavywlamper.A windings with which itis `provided -to develop starting torque, and if the strengthof the -eldsl is not maintainedat a maximum,fthe motor IIwill not get up to a speed atwhichit may be synchronized.

The mannerv in lwhich the strength of field windings i3 is controlled will now be described. As `pointed out-above, thestrength of the control-eld-winding-1I8jis regulated through control ofVv the kfieldwinding?Ellffwhich regulates the outputof the excitergenerator 20. Normal excitation'forthe `controleld lwinding 24, and alsothe field winding-25, is-prfovided by a source of constant value direct-current potential, such as the battery*` S. The switchesfSd Aand S5, in cooperation with theswitchR and a voltage reducing resistor 21, providethe connections of the windings? 24 fandi25 tothe source of lpotential 6. Regulation of theexcitation of the-control eld windings 24 is effected l-byla regulatinggenerator 28 and fa Ypilot generator --29 under the control of switches S6 through SI 2.

'-The--generatorsZ =and"29are shown as being mechanically connected Vto analternatingcurrent motor-3il which may be connected by the switches SlfDthroughSIZto thesecoridary of a step-down transformer 3|, theprimary-.of which is conf nested to the output-circuit of the alternatingcurrentfgeneratorsl I2. yThe motor 30 isa-squirrel-cage induction -rn0torrand lwill' be driven at a speed corresponding to the frequency of the currentbeing generated' by the generators I2 and thusfwill be responsive to the speed of operation of the generators-I2-and'Dieselengines I3. ther pilot generator' 29 is mechanically connected to they 1motori30, it will also Ybe responsive to the speed of operation .of the alternating-current generators I Zand Diesel engines I3. The output of the Agenerator'ZB iscontrolled by the pilot generator 29, and this generatormay be operated by any .constant lspeed/ motor instead of being connected .to the motorSLaas illustra-ted.

The generatorf28- is provided with a shunt eld wi-nidingf-band la'b contrlol'eld winding 33. lThe Since tions.

shunt eld winding 32 has a series-connected resistor 34 which is so adjusted that the output of the generator 28 will be zero when the control field winding 33 is unexcited but will build up to a maximum when the control eld winding 33 becomes slightly energized.

The control eld winding 33 is connected in series with the armature circuit of the pilot generator 29. The generator 29 is provided with a field winding 35 which is excited from a directcurrent source 6. The output of the generator 29 -is adjustably connected in series opposition to a -bias resistor 35.

The point of connection to the bias resistor 36 is so selected that the voltage drop between such point and the negative terminal of the bias resistor will be slightly lower than 'the pilot generator voltage when the Diesel engines are operating at or above a predetermined minimum speed. A rectifier block 31 is provided for preventing flow of current in the armature circuit of the pilot generator 29 under such condi- Accordingly, the control field 33 will be deenergized when the Diesel engines i3 and alternating-current generators I2 are operated at or above minimum speed. When the speed or the generators I2 drop due to a loading beyond that which the engines I3 are capable of carrying, the output of the pilot generator 29 will be correspondingly reduced, and current will liow through the control iield lwinding 33 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Excitation of the control eld winding 33 will cause the field winding 32 to build up, and the output of the generator 28 will be correspondingly increased. This output of the generator 28 will be applied through the switch Sl in opposition to the current flowing in the winding 24 and will reduce the strength of such winding. The output of the exciting generator 20 will be reduced, and the strength of the eld winding I8 will be decreased to decrease the loading on the Diesel engines I3. As soon as the Diesel engines I3 speed up in response to the decreased loading, the strength of the eld I8 will be automatically increased, and the power developed by the generators I2 will be maintained a maximum for the minimum speed setting of the Diesel engines I3.

The apparatus sho-wn in Fig. 6 is identical to that shown in Fig. 1, and like numerals have been employed to designate like parts. The difference in the showing of Fig. 2 lies in the fact that the switches designated in the sequence -charts of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 have been shown as contactors mounted on movable bases 38, 39 and 4D.

The bases 38, 39 and 40, respectively, carry the f switches or contactors designated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The contact carrying bases 38, 3S and 4D are provided with connections (not shown) for movying the same to the positions designated, as eX- `plained in the above-mentioned application.

The operation of the apparatus will be best understood by referring to Fig. 1 and the sequence charts set forth in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When starting from rest, the generator switches of Fig. 2 will be in the 01T position, the motor switches of Fig. 3 will be in the ofi position, and the motor starting switches of Fig. 4 `will be in the stop position. These are the positions of the contact carrying bases 38, 39 and 40 shown in Fig. 6. To start the apparatus, the generator switches of Fig. 2 are moved to the run position in which conta'ctors GIU, GII and GI2 close to connect the generator to the motor propulsion bus, G|5 opens to disconnect resistor I5, and GI3 and GIA closes to connect its field I8 to the excitation 6 bus.` The motor switches of Fig. 3 will then be `operated to either the ahead or astern position to connect the propulsion motor I I to its propulsion bus. `While these connections are being made, the motor starting switches of Fig. 4 are in the stop position. Upon movement to the start- I position, switches SI and S2 open to -prevent energization of the eld winding 2I, and

switch S3 closes to connect starting resistor 22 across the field 2l. Switches S5 through Sl, and S9 through SI2 are then closed to energize the control iield winding 24 and to render the control provided by the pilot generator 29 and regulating generator 28 operative. Upon movement of the motor starting switches of Fig. 4 to the start- I position, closure of switches S5, S1 and S6 apply maximum energization to the eld winding 24. Closure of the switch S9 applies potential to the field winding 35 and to the bias resistor 3B. Operation of switches SI 0, SII and SI2 will start the motor 3U and make the pilot generator 29 responsive to the speed of the Diesel engines I3 and to the frequency or speed of the generators I2.

With full excitation on the winding 24, there will be maximum excitation of the winding I 8, and the output of the generators I2 will be immediately raised to a maximum value. For low speeds of operation of the Diesel engines I3, such loading will be more than the engines I3 can carry. The overloading of the Diesel engines I3 will result in a slowing down that will be immediately detected by the pilot generator 29. The output of the pilot generator 29 will drop, and the field 33 will become energized. As explained above, energization of the control winding 33 will cause the output of the self-excited regulating generator 28 to be raised to a maximum. This action will reduce the field strength provided by the winding 24 and reduce the excitation of the generator winding I8 to a point at which the Diesel engines will return to the operating speed .for which they have been set. As their speed is raised, the strength of the field I8 through the operation of the pilot generator 29 and regulating generator 28 will be gradually increased to maintain the output of the alternating-current generators at a maximum value without slowing down of the Diesel engines I3. In this manner the output of the generators I2 is maintained at a maximum value without overloading of the Diesel engines l 3 to a point at which they will stall. The danger of stalling the Diesel engines is considerably greater when the ship is being started or stopped by operating the motor I I from a reduced number of generators I2.

With the motor starting switches in the start- J position, it will be seen that the control regulation is effective to maintain the output of the generators I2 at a maximum. While in this position, the motor II will be operating as an induction motor, and its speed will be gradually increasing until a value is reached at which its field 2I may be energized to cause it to go into synchronous operation. When the speed of the motor II reaches a value at which it may be synchronized, such condition will be apparent by a considerable drop in the current being drawn by the motor I I. As soon as the operator notices the change in the current being drawn by the motor Il, the motor starting switches may be moved to the start- 2 position. In this position switch S3 opens to disconnect the starting resistor 22, and switches SI and S2 close to connect the field winding 2| across its exciting generator 23. At

7 thelsairiev Stime, "switch .Stcloses to. pon'rlct the .winding 25 'for the exciter `generator 23 to the source of direct-:current potential 6; rSwitch S1 opens .to disconnect'the :regulating generator "28, and switch 8 closesito connect resistor 4|".intoithe circuit of 'the :control field windingy 24. The field Winding 2| is now energized,v and .after a slight pause in thelstart-- positionlto:allowithe.motor l I to |synchronize its operation', the :operatormay m'ovethe switches "of Fig. 4 to the run. position.

.In .the run position', switches SllLSll and. S12 are open vto stop the motoren. .'.The'switch-'SQ is open to deenergize the :pilot generator .29, and switch S5 is open to connectfresistor 21 into 'the circuit of the fieldwinding24. Connection of the resistor 21in this manner reduces 'the excitation of the Ygenerator windings LIS .to 'a' normal value.

With the ship .under Way, a'ffreversal `Soi? Lthe motor `rIl may be had to effect ra 4slow-ing .down .of the` ship, such as may be necessary to .prevent collision with another ship, This is accomplished .by rst .moving the motor starting switches` to the stop position. The motor switches of Fig. 3 may then be moved to the dynamic braking position inwhichthe resistances 126 become effective .to` slowf'the motor I l. and propellerll 0 Ato a t:standstill.. Theswitches Iof Figs. `2, 3. and-4*may then be .operated, -as 'explainedV above, to operate the motor ll `in--an oppositeldirection. During this operation,v theftorque exerted "by the propeller `I 0 andthefriction of the ships hullfin the .Water will be `effective `to -stop they ship. #in a short .period oftime.

Since Various changes in this 'invention maybe made without departing from `the 'spiritand scope thereof., `it'fis :intended that allxmatters contained inthe .'foregoing description vfand shownin'the accompanying' .drawings 4shall 'be- .interpreted .as illustrative'and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

l. electric ship propulsion lsystem*comprising,sinfcombination, Va`l prime mover, `an alternating-curre'nt fgenerator Shaving `an armature ifcon- =nected with saidlpriine. mover, apropulsion .-bus `connected with rsaiclf generator,a'propulsionfmotor connected '.withsaid lbus,viield excitation means for said generator, 'aregulating .generator Ifor .said *excitation*meanswliich isnorrnally inoperative to faiffect theistrengthiof said field-excitation means,

.and a :pilot 'generator responsive tonnel-speed of :operation of said vprimemoverfand operative `upon afchangein the .speed 'of foper'ation of. said prime mover-Ito rcnd'er'said regulating :generator Loperable lto .regulate `the strength oifsaidfeld fexoitatiem-means.

2. An electric ship propulsionsystemzcomprising, inly combination, :a :prime mover, an lalternating-current :generator hai/tingen `.armature .iconnected with said :prime mover, aipropulsionfzbus .connected .with saidgenerator, apropulslon-motor connected with -said-.bus, `veldv excitation 'means for sa'idfgen'erator, a yregulating'generatorrfor -re- `ducing 'the strength of said-field excitation means, acontrol :eld for-said generator normallyfop'erative when said :prime "moverris .operatingsat-ior above a predetermined-speed:to:render saidxfregulating 'generator inoperative, and a.^pilot.r-1generator .responsive to .the V-speed of operation-.of :said prime mover and .operative 'whensuclr speed vfalls below said predetermined speednto adjust Isaid control eld- :to render'said :regulating :generator operative. l

3.1:An electric ship :.prop'ulsionsystern .comprising," in combination, arprime irnover, vanfalternai'.- .ing-current generatorfhaving aniarmature .cone

nected with :said'zprime mover, a .propulsionvlous connected `vvithsalid generator, a propulsion-motor connected with .said bus, field'eXci-tation-means for-"said .generator .including a control field, `a source of potentialfor energi-ing said control eld,

a regulating generator having an outputxcircuit connected in opposition to said-source, :eld .control meansfor Vsaidregulating generator 'including `a pilot generatorresponsive to thefspeed of operlati'onfof-Lsaid prime'mover, :said field control `means being fso arranged that the .output offsaid .regulating 'generator isJineifectivel .to vary the potentialofsaid'source whenLsaid prime moverfistrotating'at'for. above a predetermined speed, vsaid pilot generator vbeing operative'through said -field con. trolmeans yin response to the speed of saidiprime mover falling below .said predetermined speed .toxincrease `the output lof said 'regulating'gener- .ator `and thereby .reduce the potential zon..said control field.

' .4.1JAn .ielectriciship propulsion system `compriszing, in combination; .a .primemoven `an alternating-current .generator having an armature connected-.with zsaid prime mover, .a propulsion :bus connectedwith said generator, a propulsionmotorconnectedtwith said bus, eld excitation vmeans for -said generator, and regulating means' vfor said eld. excitation means operative tomaintain .its strength-at a maximum value when said primemover is operating above a :predetermined speed, andto reduce its strength when thespeed of said prime `mover falls below said predetermined speed, said regulating means `comprising arcontrol field, a source of potential for energizing rsaid control eld, a regulating Vgeneratorhaving an output. circuit vbucking said source, said `field .control .means vifor `said `regulating generator-:including a pilot generator'responsive't'o the speed 'of saidxiprime mover .and having Ian :output circuit, :a-control circuit connected in series .opposition to .saidipilot lgenerator .output circuit, said 'pilot'fgenerator `being eiective to prevent energization .of said'neld control means when said lprime 'mover isfoperating above said apredetermined speed'and effective at: other speeds'through said opposed circuits .to 4energize said fieldcontrol means, energization ofV :said .'ield .control `means :rendering saidregulating generator operative to reduce the energization and'strengthfof said. field control means.

5. A control system for regulating the .speed of AanA alternatingecurrent generator comprising afcontrol/field 4for :said generator, and regulating :means for varying thestrength of said-field andfthereby'the v.speed of said generator, said regulatingmeans "being Aoperative tto :maintain'the .strength of said eld at a `maximum value when said generator is operating above a predetermined speed, and-to 4reduce .its strength when the :speed of said generator '.falls `belowfsaid predetermined speed,said fregulating'means 'comprising a source of potential orenergizing said control field; a regulating generator having an '-.output `circuit bucking `said source, Aiield control (means forrsaid regulating generator including a pilot generator responsive .to the `speed of said alternating-current generatorfand havingan .output circuit, and a Acontrol .circuit .connected vin series opposition to said pilot generator output circuit, said-pi10t generatorzbeing effective .to prevent energization of said iield controlimeans whensaid'alternatingcurrent generator is operating above :said `pre-- determined speed yand eiectivex at .other :speeds through said opposed circuits to energize said field control means, energizationof saideldcontrol means rendering said regulating generator operative to reduce the energization and strength of said control eld.

6. A control system for regulating the speed of an alternating-current generator comprising a control eld for said generator, and regulating means for varying the strength of said eld and thereby the speed of said generator comprising a source of potential for energizing said control eld, a regulating generator having an output circuit connected in opposition to said source, and field control means for said regulating generator including a pilot generator responsive to the speed of said alternating-current generator, said eld control means being so arranged that the output of said regulating generator is ineffective to vary the potential of said source when said a1- ternating-current generator is rotating at or above a predetermined speed, said pilot generator being operative through said eld control means in response to the speed of said alternating-current generator falling below said predetermined speed to increase the output of said regulating generator and thereby reduce the potential on said control eld.

7. A control system for regulating the speed of an alternating-current generator comprising a control field for said generator, and regulating means for Varying the strength of said eld and thereby the speed of said generator comprising a regulating generator for said control eld which is normally inoperative to affect the strength of said control field, and a pilot generator responsive to the speed of operation of said alternating-current generator and operative upon a change in the speed of said alternating-current generator to render said regulating generator operative to regulate the strength of said control eld.

ERLING FRISCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references le of this patent:

are of record in the 

